香蕉视频官网

Julia Higdon Earns College of Science and Mathematics Excellence Award at 香蕉视频官网

Julia Rose Higdon of Orange Park, Florida, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Science and Mathematics at 香蕉视频官网. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry during 香蕉视频官网’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.

VALDOSTA — Julia Rose Higdon of Orange Park, Florida, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Science and Mathematics at 香蕉视频官网.

The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to a high-performing graduating student in each of 香蕉视频官网’s six colleges — Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of the Arts, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, College of Science and Mathematics, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Higdon will be recognized during 香蕉视频官网’s 238^th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry. 

“My experience at 香蕉视频官网 has been one of the best in my life,” she said. “As a first-generation pre-medical student, the process of applying to medical school seemed overwhelming and nearly impossible. I have met so many friends, faculty, and mentors that have not only helped me stay grounded but have also pushed me to be the best version of myself. I have gained knowledge, independence, confidence, and perseverance that I will take with me for the rest of my life. From 3 a.m. ice cream runs to lab work to club meetings and research presentations, I will never forget my time at 香蕉视频官网.”

As a student at 香蕉视频官网, Higdon was a member of Collegiate Women of 香蕉视频官网; Student Members of the American Chemical Society, where she served as public relations chairperson; the Pre-Medicine Club, where she served as public relations chairperson, vice president, president, and assisting officer; the Japanese Club, where she served as public relations chairperson; and the Psi Phi chapter of Beta Beta Beta, where she served as secretary.  

She worked with the Academic Support Center as a Peer Alliance Learning (PAL) facilitator for students taking BIOL 1107: Principles of Biology I and BIOL 1108: Principles of Biology II. She volunteered with Bridges of Harmony Chorus in Jacksonville, Florida, and South Georgia Medical Center’s Inpatient Rehabilitation team and had an opportunity to gain valuable experience shadowing the medical staff at Valdosta Orthopedic Associates.

Higdon researched nanotechnology with Dr. Kurt Winkelmann, head of the Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, and presented her findings at the 2022 Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference and 2023 香蕉视频官网 Undergraduate Research Symposium (“The Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Respiration of Baker’s Yeast”).  

She researched medical entomology with Dr. Eric Chambers, associate professor in the Department of Biology, and shared her discoveries at the 2024 香蕉视频官网 Undergraduate Research Symposium (“The Geographic Distribution and Dirofilaria immitis Infection Rates in Members of the Anopheles crucians s.l. Species Complex in Lowndes County, GA”).

Her biomedical science research with Dr. Jonghoon Kang, professor in the Department of Biology, resulted in her work being published in a variety of scholarly publications — Bone, Journal of Multiscale Neuroscience, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Steroids, and Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy.

Higdon’s commitment to academic, leadership, research, and service excellence helped her earn the 2021 and 2024 Martha Barnes Scholarship, the 2024 David and Cecelia Ratcliffe Scholarship, the 2024 Biology Senior Award, and repeated Dean’s List honors.

Higdon plans to apply to medical school and continue with her research, as well as her volunteer and clinical work, after graduation. She hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Her supportive family includes Kim Higdon (mother), Patrick Higdon (father), Madeline Higdon (sister), Harley (dog), Amanda and Clint Wilson (aunt and uncle), Robert and Dee Dee Scott (grandfather and grandmother), and her cousins. She also gave a special mention to The Bridges of Harmony Chorus, her friends, the faculty and staff of the Department of Biology and Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, and her research mentors, Kang, Winkelmann, and Chambers.

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